House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) spoke on CNBC’s Squawk Box, criticizing Democratic leaders for what he described as using the current government shutdown for political gain. Arrington stated, “Well, I think the Democrats have been operating as if the people’s pain is their political gain, but I don't think they know what pain is yet. November 1st will be a big test. I hope we don't have to test it, but that's when 42 million people who depend on SNAP for their nutritional assistance and to feed their families will be jeopardized. You already have seniors and veterans and vulnerable people, mothers with their children who receive critical healthcare and nutritional assistance through WIC, troops and their families, and the list goes on. So I hope that we will see Democrats in the Senate break."
He added optimism about bipartisan negotiations moving forward: “I believe we will. They're already having calls for passing the clean CR from key constituencies like the unionized federal workforce. And so I'm hopeful that will happen, because I think it's in the best interest of the American people.
“We can negotiate consensus, bipartisan policy in the final funding bill. That's what we do all the time. That's regular order. That's the normal course of business. And it's what Democrats like Chuck Schumer have done year in and year out for 44 years. I hope they come to their senses.”
Arrington criticized Democratic demands during negotiations over government funding: “I think if you give in to these unreasonable demands—remember, they're asking for twice the amount of the discretionary budget by spending an additional $1.5 trillion—you know the list of things: funding healthcare for illegals, going back to welfare without work, and expanding these failed COVID subsidies not just for people on Obamacare but for people making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Listen, we will be in this position year in and year out if we give away some bad policy that's going to hurt the country or cause us to spend more money and put increased pressure on prices.”
He argued that Republicans are following through on campaign promises: “I think you hit it on the head, though. This is about stopping the momentum of Trump. It's about political interests, right? It's about finding or shifting the political momentum and finding a wedge issue. The problem is, it's not a wedge issue. It's another 80–20 issue that they're on the wrong side of. And that's the extending of subsidies to wealthy people in a fraud-ridden COVID-era subsidy that Democrats couldn't even get made permanent when they controlled all the levers of power in this town—not to mention funding illegals, et cetera, et cetera. It's more disconnection from a desperate party looking for momentum, looking for a change, with all the wins that this president is racking up in implementing the agenda that the American people just voted for. So that's my analysis of the situation—which is why I think they will break.”
Arrington also praised Speaker Mike Johnson's approach during negotiations: “Well, let me be clear. There was plenty of pressure on our new Speaker Mike Johnson to shut the government down over the border chaos and the invasion of our country, and he didn't do it. He didn't do it because he's a leader who's putting his country's interests first, and he said, 'Look, we're going to negotiate what we can out of a bipartisan deal, and then we're going to take our case to the American people. We're going to trust their good judgment.' And we presented the facts to the American people, and the American people wanted to change direction—and do it in such a demonstrative fashion that they gave Republicans total control of the House, Senate, and White House. So that's way this ought to be done. And unfortunately, Democrats have chosen a desperate and failed strategy.”
The debate comes as millions rely on federal programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women Infants Children), which could face disruption due to ongoing disagreements over government funding levels.
